Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Jie Jingchen collected his thoughts, tucked Qin Mei in, then got up and walked out of the hospital room.

Jie Jingchen gently closed the door, looked at Dean Zhang, and asked lightly, ”Uncle Zhang, is something wrong?”

”Jing Chen, I’d like to ask you for a favor,” Dean Zhang said, a little embarrassed.

Jie Jingchen knew what favor Dean Zhang wanted to ask and directly refused, ”I can’t help.”

Dean Zhang’s expression darkened, and he lightly punched Jie Jingchen’s shoulder. ”You brat, I haven’t even said anything yet. How do you know you can’t help?”

”She won’t listen to me,” Jie Jingchen said, his deep voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.

”You haven’t even said anything, so how can you be so sure she won’t listen?” Dean Zhang wouldn’t give up, especially since Jie Jingchen had refused before he even stated his request.

Jie Jingchen remained silent, giving Dean Zhang a look that said he was powerless to help.

When Qin Mei woke up and didn’t see Jie Jingchen, she went to the bathroom to wash her face before strolling over to Qin Xiang’s room.

Qin Xiang was standing by the window, stretching his muscles. Hearing the door open, he turned his head. When he saw it was his little sister, a bright, sunny smile spread across his face. ”Little Sis.”

”Well, look at you, moving around. Aren’t you afraid of splitting your wound open?” Qin Mei walked toward the sofa. Her motto was: if you can lie down, never sit; if you can sit, never stand.

”I know my limits,” Qin Xiang said, approaching Qin Mei with a strange gait.

Qin Mei watched the awkward way he walked. He couldn’t sit, couldn’t lie on his back—he could only lie on his stomach. Fortunately, he was a soldier with an iron will.

”Big Bro, when are you being discharged?” Qin Mei asked.

Qin Xiang stood in front of Qin Mei, wanting to sit but not daring to. ”Soon.”

Qin Mei looked up at Qin Xiang, her brow furrowing in disdain. ”Don’t just stand there in front of me. You’re blocking my view.”

”Little Sis, I’m the patient here,” Qin Xiang said, feeling genuinely wronged by his sister’s disdain.

”You brought it on yourself,” Qin Mei retorted.

”So heartless.” Qin Xiang moved gingerly, inching his way toward the hospital bed.

Watching his snail-like pace, Qin Mei’s lips twitched. ’He’s faking it. He’s definitely faking it. Just a moment ago, he was stretching by the window, and now he’s acting like he’s too injured to even take care of himself.’

Qin Xiang lay prone on the bed, reading a book Jie Jingchen had given him to pass the time.

”Big Bro, do you have a girlfriend?” Qin Mei asked.

Qin Xiang didn’t look at her. ”Why? You want to set me up with someone?”

Qin Mei mentally filtered through all the women she knew. After careful consideration, she realized that besides Jing Qi, there really wasn’t anyone suitable for her brother.

Jing Qi was too young. She didn’t know if her brother would be willing to wait for Jing Qi to grow up. Then again, while Jing Qi was growing up, Qin Xiang would be getting older. It would be a case of robbing the cradle.

The most effective and direct way to put an end to Jing Qi’s feelings for her brother was for him to get married. But, of course, her brother just wouldn’t get married.

”Big Bro,” Qin Mei said slowly, ”did Jing Si tell you that your love rival has infiltrated the Governor Mansion?”

Qin Xiang gave Qin Mei a strange look. Jing Si had told him about Jiang Yuan infiltrating the Governor Mansion, but why was his little sister calling Jiang Yuan his love rival? His eyes filled with suspicion. ’Does she have amnesia? Or are her memories jumbled?’

”Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t even have a girlfriend, so how could I have a love rival?” Afraid that Qin Mei would see through him, Qin Xiang quickly averted his gaze back to his book, but he couldn’t take in a single word.

”I’m not being ridiculous. Jing Si told me,” Qin Mei said, selling out Jie Jingchen without a hint of guilt.

’Keep a secret? Pfft! If he really wanted it kept secret, he shouldn’t have told me. Once I know something, it’s too hard to expect me to keep my mouth shut.’

Qin Xiang glanced at Qin Mei out of the corner of his eye. ”Don’t listen to Jing Si’s nonsense. He’s lying to you.”

”Why would he lie to me?” Qin Mei asked.

Qin Xiang fell silent. Under Qin Mei’s pressing, he finally gave in. He glanced warily at the door and said in a low voice, ”Little Sis, I’ll tell you a secret, but you have to promise you’ll keep it.”

Qin Mei’s expression twisted for a moment, but she nodded readily. ”Fine.”

”Jiang Yuan isn’t my love rival, he’s Jing Si’s love rival,” Qin Xiang said, speaking very quickly.

Qin Mei paused, her almond eyes narrowing slightly. ’Is the bond between Jie Jingchen and Qin Xiang made of plastic? Passing the buck back and forth like this... Seriously?’

”Big Bro, are you sure you’re not trying to sow discord between my husband and me?” Qin Mei’s smiling expression didn’t change, but her words were a clear threat.

Qin Xiang’s expression was conflicted. He looked like he wanted to say more but held back.

Qin Mei thought of someone: Doctor Du. Gao Hai had once revealed that the relationship between Jie Jingchen and Doctor Du was anything but simple.

”AHEM.” Qin Xiang cleared his throat, considered his words for a moment, and then offered a reminder, ”Jiang Yuan is from Yangcheng City.”

Qin Mei was lost in thought and didn’t register what Qin Xiang said.

Seeing that Qin Mei had no reaction, Qin Xiang remembered her amnesia. ’It’s hard for her to pick up on hints like she used to.’ ”Little Sis, you’re from Yangcheng City too.”